The Pickwick Club discussion

Fellow Pickwickians, place your observations, on the second to last section of Oliver Twist, here:

The evidence destroyed

Mr. Fagin and his pupils recovering Nancy

The Jew & Morris Bolter begin to understand each other

I do think this was a funny scene with the Jew and Noah. This was another of those strange coincidences, which left the astute reader wondering how and why Claypole decided to steal from and run away from his employer. He just shows up, and just so happens to run into Fagin. If there is one thing, I didn't like about this book, it was the number of coincidences, and the little or no, or unsatisfactory explanations of them. I take this in stride thinking we are seeing a great, young writer developing his skill to the point of eventual mastery. I do find that the coincidences in Martin Chuzzlewit were handled much more articulately. We'll discuss that later.

Jonathan wrote: "I do think this was a funny scene with the Jew and Noah. This was another of those strange coincidences, which left the astute reader wondering how and why Claypole decided to steal from and run aw..."

Actually for me, Noah Claypole is quite a paradox in this novel, because on the one hand I agree with you that plot-wise there is actually no need for his appearing out of the blue, because Fagin's gang has members enough who would have been willing to spy on Nancy, thus bringing about the catastrophe that is to befall her. This role could easily have been assigned to the Dodger or to Charley Bates, and there is only one reason I can think of why Dickens might not have wanted to do this:

(view spoiler)[With regard to Charley Bates, this would have made it impossible for Dickens to have Charley become a reformed criminal, because if he had been responsible or Nancy's death, the reader might not have forgiven him, and the case of of criminal being able to make amends might have got lost. With regard to the Dodger, Dickens would probably not have wanted this "likeable rogue" to be incriminated with having a part in Nancy's death. That's why he reactivated Noah. (hide spoiler)]

On the other hand, Noah is characterized quite subtly, the reader having to draw his own conclusions in many ways. And, as you said, the episode of his and Charlotte's absconding with Sowerberry's money, leaves a lot to be filled in by the reader's imagination.

This is basically why I cannot tell whether I like Noah's reappearance, which is so much against all odds, or not.

Chapter 43 also struck me because it shows, in a mock heroic way, the code of honour amongst the thieves. Even Fagin seemed to be less calculating than usual when he tried to point out to Charley that the Artful Dodger is rather to be envied than pitied.

For my money, Chapter 43, although it seems to be completely superfluous with regard to the whole story, shows all the artistic power of the Inimitable in the crooked reasoning of Fagin and Charley and in the way the Artful Dodger behaves during his trial. This is truly Pickwickian, my friends!